Effect of dietary saponin rich soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP), a cheap source of saponins, on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens. The experimental design was 4×2, employing four saponin levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet), each provided for two time durations (0–42 day and 21–42 day) resulting into eight dietary treatments. Results revealed no significant effect of dietary saponins on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds. The abdominal fat percentage, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, faecal total plate count, coliform count and E. coli count decreased (p < .05) progressively with increasing saponin levels and lower values were observed at 150 mg and 200 mg saponin levels. Significant improvement of cell‐mediated and humoral immune response was observed in birds fed 150 mg and 200 mg saponin compared to control. The serum glucose concentration was significantly (p < .05) higher in control group compared to other groups. No significant effects of dietary saponin were observed on carcass characteristics, faecal Lactobacillus count, intestinal histomorphometry and cost economics of broiler chicken production. Thus, dietary saponins at 150 mg/kg diet as SSP for three weeks (21–42 days) was optimum for better immunity and welfare of birds without adverse effects on the growth performance.

Phenolic compounds as natural feed additives in poultry and swine diets: a review

“…Moreover, the immunomodulatory function of plant polyphenol has been reported via dropping the expression of interleukins IL-4, IL-13, IL-18 and IFN-γ in LPS challenged broilers fed with phenolic rich diets [ 86 ]. Dietary supplementation of saponins, phenolic compounds originated from soapnut ( Sapindus mukorossi ) at 150 mg/kg could improve the cell-mediated and humoral immune response of broilers without adverse effects on optimum body weight [ 87 ]. Inclusion of thyme essential oil at 3 g/kg could improve serum IgG, IgA, antibody titer against ND vaccine in broilers and could eliminate the adverse effects of ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B 1 in broiler diets [ 88 ].…”

Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves

“…In the current study, serum TG concentrations were generally lower in yak calves consuming the herbal extracts, especially G. uralensis , than in control yak calves. Previous studies reported that administration of G. uralensis reduced hepatic TG levels in mice [ 23 ], while consuming saponins reduced serum TG concentrations in sheep and chickens [ 24 , 25 ]. Furthermore, ursolic acid, the main component of saponins (terpene) in G. uralensis , alleviated lipid accumulation by activating the AMPK signaling pathway [ 26 ].…”

Dietary Mannan‐oligosaccharides potentiate the beneficial effects of Bifidobacterium bifidum in broiler chicken

“…The microbial colony counting was done between 24 and 48 hr after incubation using a Quebec colony counter. The CFU were defined as distinct colonies measuring at least 1 mm in diameter and expressed as log 10 CFU per g sample (Bera et al ., 2019). …”

“…The microbial colony counting was done between 24 and 48 hr after incubation using a Quebec colony counter. The CFU were defined as distinct colonies measuring at least 1 mm in diameter and expressed as log 10 CFU per g sample (Bera et al, 2019).…”